Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Natural Resources Faculty, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
2
Bachelor student, Department of Environmental Science, Natural Resources Faculty, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
Abstract
Protected areas are one of the most important biological reserves and resources providing ecosystem services, and the need to identify environmental hazards and preserve and optimally utilize these resources is essential. In the present study, in order to identify environmental hazards in Sefidkuh protected area, the threatening factors were evaluated within the framework of the DPSIR conceptual model, including driving force, pressure, status, impact, and response. After identifying the most important environmental hazards, these hazards were prioritized and ranked using the TOPSIS method. According to the results, 37 factors play a role in the occurrence of environmental hazards in Sefidkuh protected area, of which 32 factors have human origins and 5 factors have environmental origins. The results indicate that the highest incidence of environmental hazards in this region is caused by human factors. The results of weighting and prioritizing environmental hazards showed that among the threat factors, the highest total weight was assigned to the development of human activities (0.0187) and the lowest total weight was assigned to cultural weakness (0.065). The major environmental risks with the highest weight in the region include, respectively, "lack of protective forces and facilities", "weak monitoring and control of human activities in the region", "poor performance in law enforcement", "illegal hunting", "excess livestock entering the rangelands during unauthorized and sensitive seasons", "tourism beyond the region's capacity", "development of inappropriate economic activities in the region (agriculture, industry and mining)" and "land use/cover changes (agriculture to industry, forest to agriculture)". Controlling these risks requires comprehensive planning and integrated management at the level of this region. The results of this study can help decision makers and planners in formulating a management plan and taking strategic measures in this area by providing a range of environmental hazards and the degree of vulnerability of the Sefidkuh protected area.
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